AMD Begins Offering Wraith Max Cooler Through Retail Channels - $59

[dj-electric]

59$ is hella-steep. You can destroy it in half this price.

This cooler is marketing for AMD. It should cost 25$ max.

 

[deu]

The struggle people here have to not interact with this offering is staggering! Its AN OPTION: Go buy something else if you dont want it! Cudos to AMD for giving that option. Maybe someone will buy maybe noone will. But one thing is confirmed; The internet will rage from the clouds over this!

 

[ironwolf]

it's a RGB connector though, not USB

I know that *now*. A few months ago it was unclear what that USB header cable was for, it was only mentioned that it had a USB header cable along with the 4-pin cable. Did not occur to me that the USB header cable would be used for the lighting, I didn't look past the AM4 compatibility.

 

[newtekie1]

59$ is hella-steep. You can destroy it in half this price.

This cooler is marketing for AMD. It should cost 25$ max.

Honestly, I bet half that price is because of the RGB. I'd like to see a cheaper version without the RGB.

As for destroying it at half the price, I don't think so. The Wraith Max performs the same as the 212 EVO and is quieter at the same time. That's a pretty good combination. Sure, you can probably find something that performs better, but probably not by much, and I'm doubting it would be much cheaper. And at the same time, 120mm tower style coolers have their limitations. They can't be used in most HTPC computers because of their height. The Wraith on the other hand can. The Wraith is only 8cm tall, most 120mm tower coolers are right about double that.

And, really, if you hop on ebay, you can find the non-RGB version on sale for about $30. That isn't a bad deal.

Edit: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-wraith-cpu-cooler,4450.html

Here is a good review by Tom's comparing it to a Thermalright Macho. The Macho costs right about the same as the Wraith Max. They still performed right about the same temperature wise. The only thing the Macho wins at is noise, beating the Wraith by 6dBA. But another thing to note was that the VRMs on the motherboard ran a good 15°C cooler with the Wraith than with the Macho, and the Wraith was still quiet enough to not be heard over the other components in a closed case.

 

[SPLWF]

Finally, been looking at ebay and their selling the 1700 stock RGB cooler for over $50 + shipping. My 1600 non RGB cooler is still good but I wanted RGB. At least the Wraight Max is way better than 1700 cooler. I'm definitely this when it's available.

 

[Hiryougan]

Guys, did you forget that AMD in the beginning said that they won't sell them standalone because they don't want to undermine their partners. People asked so much for it anyway(mainly on reddit) that they finally released it.

Also why are you guys compare it to 212 evo? It's a tower. Wraith is a horizontal cooler, actually the best horizontal cooler out there at the moment, not even talking about the fact it's RGB. You don't buy it because you need it, you buy it when you WANT it.

 

[cdawall]

I have worked in recycling and resale for about 6 years and have never seen a broken AMD retention bracket from standard use. Sure, if they bounce around in a gaylord and get smashed to shit then the brackets could break on you but as they come out of the mold? Highly doubtful. I would expect (and have seen) the PCB or socket to begin cracking under that kind of pressure.

Perhaps I'm the exception and have just never been in the right place at the right time to experience a bracket failure.

I have worked in repairs a bit and never seen a broken AMD bracket myself.

 

[newtekie1]

I have worked in repairs a bit and never seen a broken AMD bracket myself.

I've only ever seen one, and that was someone that way over tightened a water block hold down. Over tightening isn't an issue with the lever style like the Wraith uses.

 

[john_]

The more it costs as a stand alone product, the bigger the gift as part of a Ryzen boxed processor.

 

[ironwolf]

I have worked in repairs a bit and never seen a broken AMD bracket myself.

About every 4 months or so I have someone come in with a broken AMD bracket. Most were from them moving the system but a few just broke while sitting on the desk/floor. If someone brings in one to scrap that has a good bracket I make sure to yank it out.

 

[deu]

Guys, did you forget that AMD in the beginning said that they won't sell them standalone because they don't want to undermine their partners. People asked so much for it anyway(mainly on reddit) that they finally released it.

Also why are you guys compare it to 212 evo? It's a tower. Wraith is a horizontal cooler, actually the best horizontal cooler out there at the moment, not even talking about the fact it's RGB. You don't buy it because you need it, you buy it when you WANT it.

I think people are using that for comparison since its been the golden 'value/money' cooler for so many builds.

 

[RejZoR]

Unless you really need low profile, why bother when you can get this:
https://www.computeruniverse.net/en/products/90316951/arctic-freezer-xtreme-rev-2.asp

...for less?

 

[seronx]

I would rather get a Thermaltake engine 27 and a sub-45W APU/CPUwiGFX.

 

[cdawall]

About every 4 months or so I have someone come in with a broken AMD bracket. Most were from them moving the system but a few just broke while sitting on the desk/floor. If someone brings in one to scrap that has a good bracket I make sure to yank it out.

How curious I see quite a few AMD boxes and even the original s939 stuff I see is still in one piece.

 

[Totally]

I don't understand one thing: why is the Wraith Max (the best one) using the plastic mounting bracket that comes with the motherboard, but Stealth and Spire are screwed in?
Basically the best CPU cooler from AMD uses the worst mounting system.

This has a relatively large rectangular piece of copper as the cold plate and the spire/stealth have radial fins and have a smaller coin-shaped piece for the cold-plate because of the size and shape it can use the screw in method to apply even tension without making thing complicated

 

[Totally]

Honestly, I bet half that price is because of the RGB. I'd like to see a cheaper version without the RGB.

As for destroying it at half the price, I don't think so. The Wraith Max performs the same as the 212 EVO and is quieter at the same time. That's a pretty good combination. Sure, you can probably find something that performs better, but probably not by much, and I'm doubting it would be much cheaper. And at the same time, 120mm tower style coolers have their limitations. They can't be used in most HTPC computers because of their height. The Wraith on the other hand can. The Wraith is only 8cm tall, most 120mm tower coolers are right about double that.

And, really, if you hop on ebay, you can find the non-RGB version on sale for about $30. That isn't a bad deal.

Edit: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-wraith-cpu-cooler,4450.html

Here is a good review by Tom's comparing it to a Thermalright Macho. The Macho costs right about the same as the Wraith Max. They still performed right about the same temperature wise. The only thing the Macho wins at is noise, beating the Wraith by 6dBA. But another thing to note was that the VRMs on the motherboard ran a good 15°C cooler with the Wraith than with the Macho, and the Wraith was still quiet enough to not be heard over the other components in a closed case.

I found mine on Amazon for $20.

edit:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XP51521/?tag=tec06d-20

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

About every 4 months or so I have someone come in with a broken AMD bracket. Most were from them moving the system but a few just broke while sitting on the desk/floor. If someone brings in one to scrap that has a good bracket I make sure to yank it out.

Its not like you can over tighten a spring bracket. I call BS and what you see is intentional or someone clueless messing with something they shouldnt. Far from a design flaw.

 

[cdawall]

Its not like you can over tighten a spring bracket. I call BS and what you see is intentional or someone clueless messing with something they shouldnt. Far from a design flaw.

Yea I kinda fall behind this as well. I mean for years that bracket has worked fine. I have seen far more intel push pin coolers sitting in pieces than the AMD ones.

 

[newtekie1]

Yea I kinda fall behind this as well. I mean for years that bracket has worked fine. I have seen far more intel push pin coolers sitting in pieces than the AMD ones.

And try taking an Intel cooler off that has been on for a few years and then get it back in. The plastic prongs on the push pins are so used to being spread out, it is a pain to get them to all go through the holes.

 

[ironwolf]

Its not like you can over tighten a spring bracket. I call BS and what you see is intentional or someone clueless messing with something they shouldnt. Far from a design flaw.

Never intimated it was a design flaw. Simply pointing out that the plastic nubs on those brackets *can* simply break. Some of you are reading into my statements or concluding that it can't happen because it has never happened to you.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Never intimated it was a design flaw. Simply pointing out that the plastic nubs on those brackets *can* simply break. Some of you are reading into my statements or concluding that it can't happen because it has never happened to you.

you implied it happened a lot. I built many a system, and yea, it never happened to me. You are right about one thing, that anything CAN be broken. Expecting plastic to last forever is also foolish.

 

[Imsochobo]

I have worked in recycling and resale for about 6 years and have never seen a broken AMD retention bracket from standard use. Sure, if they bounce around in a gaylord and get smashed to shit then the brackets could break on you but as they come out of the mold? Highly doubtful. I would expect (and have seen) the PCB or socket to begin cracking under that kind of pressure.

Perhaps I'm the exception and have just never been in the right place at the right time to experience a bracket failure.

I cracked one MSI one, the board died and I took off the cooler -
it was 8 years old, holding a heavy passive cooler which have been running 24/7 with tons of heatcycles since forever.
It actually may be from the S939 era too...
It may happen, but in my experience very unlikely, and it's far superior to intel's solution and the back bracket is an option for cpu cooler manufactures to use so I see it as the best mounting system as it allows you to use clip or screw method.

 

[Basard]

Isn't this the same cooler they've been using since the phenom 2's now with RGB lighting?
If so they are definitely good up to 140w...
And these things are fantastic for HTPC use or even for gaming with a decent but not great OC.

It's pretty much the same... but the fan that came with the old Phenom II coolers was crap, and loud as hell, I think it was 70mm... I would always replace the fan on the thing with an 80mm 2600rpm-ish fan, mega upgrade. This one has a 90 or 92mm.... It's way better then the Phenom II coolers, but the sink is basically the same.

How curious I see quite a few AMD boxes and even the original s939 stuff I see is still in one piece.

I've probably installed twenty or so at least... never an issue, even using the force of God to put an Arctic Freezer 64 on multiple times.

Edit: And I'll add that $59 is damn ludicrous, I could see $40 tops.... But then everything lately is overpriced. The Samsung SSD that I have consistently costs more than the one I paid for over a year ago.

 

[Lionheart]

I was going to bash AMD for jumping on the LED bandwagon, but then I remembered that a fool and his money are soon parted. And if you fork out 60 bucks for this POS, you're a fool, and I have no problem with anyone taking your money.

How is this cooler a POS? The price is terrible, not the cooler itself.

 

[_larry]

I have an Enermax EN30 currently on my 1600x. Bought it for $25~ It is a 92mm fan with 3 copper heat-pipes. I have it overclocked to 3.89ghz. It never touches 60C while gaming. High 50C at most. Only thing that gets it above 60C is Furmark or other stress tests. Even then I have never seen it get over 65C~...